The beat of the street

A beat team has launched in New Plymouth - and received a warm welcome from the community.

Police in Taranaki have stepped up their presence in retail areas across the region, with a particular focus on the New Plymouth CBD, as part of an initiative to reduce retail crime and enhance public safety.

Operation Safer Cities launched last month and includes a six-month trial of a dedicated Beat section.

The team of three - acting Sergeant Graeme Jones and Constables Aimee Baldwin and Louise Hunger - are tasked with targeting retail crime offenders while providing a visible and reassuring Police presence in key shopping zones.

Relieving Taranaki Area Commander Inspector Andrew Fabish says the officers are equipped with advanced mobility tools to help them focus their acitvities.

“These tools give frontline staff real-time access to critical data, enabling them to respond swiftly and effectively to incidents while offering reassurance to local retailers,” says Andrew.

The operation has seen early success – within 15 minutes of starting their beat, Aimee and Louise arrested a known repeat offender during a proactive visit to a store previously targeted by crime.

“Community feedback has been overwhelmingly positive with many thanking Taranaki Police for their mahi and acknowledging the visible improvements in the city,” says Andrew.

“Operation Safer Cities aims to build public trust and confidence by maintaining a connected, accountable and highly visible Police presence.

“The team’s strategy is rooted in the crime triangle model—removing the 'O for Offender', while supporting the 'V for Victim' and being present in the right 'L for Location' at the right time.”

Graeme and the team are making great strides in their partnerships with the local retail sector – Graeme comes from a Community Policing background, Louise is from PST and Aimee is on secondment from the Wellington Beat Team, bringing her skills and knowledge to support her Taranaki colleagues.

“Proactivity is the key, and our technology also allows us to work smarter,” says Graeme.

“Everyone has been welcoming and so grateful for our presence, remarking that it makes them feel safer, especially retail employees. Members of the public have said it’s lovely seeing cops out – like how it used to be done.”

Members of the city’s homeless community have also responded well to the increased Police presence.

“We haven’t received any negative feedback and they have been open and receptive to engaging with us,” says Graeme.

“Support is also important with this community, and we identify if there are any AWHI referrals that we can make to prevent them from committing crime.

“This positive feedback reinforces that we are achieving what we set out to do.”